SikhNet - September 11th Archives - Other Backlash Murder Victims

Who Are the Victims of Hate?

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The names of these invisible casualties were provided to us by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Council of American-Islamic Relations and various media sources as homicides that have possible or proven ties to the September 11th backlash. We have included every name that has been brought to our attention out of respect to the surviving members of their families. Each case deserves respectful and further attention.

Wagar Hasan Age 46 Pakistani descent Muslim

September 15, 2001 Dallas, TX AP Wires (10/10/01)

Waqar Hasan was shot in the face while cooking burgers in his grocery store. The assailant apparently ignored what police described as a “considerable amount” of money in the cash register. Waqar is survived by four daughters, his mother and wife who were all dependent on him. They are now facing foreclosure on their home. The murderer, Mark Anthony Stroman, claimed he killed Hasan and another man and shot a third out of revenge for the terrorist attacks. All three victims were of South Asian descent.

Adel Karas Age 48 Egyptian descent Christian

September 15, 2001 San Gabriel, CA AP October 10, 2001

Grocery store owner Adel Karas was shot to death while at work. After a confrontation between him and two customers, the two men shot him and sped off leaving the money in the cash register intact. He is survived by his wife and 3 children, ages 10, 12 and 13. Mr. and Mrs. Karas came to the U.S. to practice Christianity in a country that would be tolerant of their religion.

Saed Mujtahid Pakistan descent Muslim

September 15, 2001 Dallas, TX

Saed Mujtahid was working as a clerk in a convenience store when he was shot to death.

Jayantilal Patel Age 45 Indian descent

September 17, 2001 Haines City, FL

Jayantilal Patel was found gagged, bound and beaten at the motel he owned and operated. A month later, police arrested Patel's murderers -Sean Russell, 23 and Kimberly Williams, 20. The pair confessed to killing Patel.

Ali Almansoop Yemen descent

September 19, 2001 Lincoln Park, MI

Ali Almmansoop was shot in the back and killed while fleeing his attacker. He had lived in America for 32 years. Brent Seever, who was convicted of the shooting in June, told the police, “I was motivated by all this terrorist activity.” 26 year old Saleh Almansoop said of his father’s slaying, “Same terrorists. This is the same. Same as in New York. The same killed me dad. I lost everything.”

Surjit Singh Samra Age 69 Sikh

September 19, 2001 Cerces, CA Modesto Bee (10/18/01)

The body of Surjit Singh Samra was discovered 2 days after he had left his home for an evening walk. His body was found beneath about 5 feet of water in a nearby irrigation canal. Samra was still clothed, but his turban and glasses were missing. His wallet was in his pocket, money still intact.

Abdo Ali Ahmed Arab descent

September 29, 2001 Fresno, CA The Fresno Bee (10/02/01)

Abdo Ali Ahmed, a store employee, was shot several times and killed while at work. Witnesses told detectives that they saw four men speed from the store in a white four-door sedan. No merchandise or money was stolen. Ahmed had received threats since mid-September. He is survived by 8 children.

Abdullah Mohammed Nimer Palestinian descent

October 3, 2001 Los Angeles, CA AFP (10/09/01)

A clothing salesman, Abdullah Mohammed Nimer, was killed while making his door-to-door rounds. There were no witnesses, but Mr. Nimer's family is convinced that the killing was a hate crime because neither money nor goods were stolen.

Vasudev Patel Age 49 Indian descent Hindu

October 4, 2001 Mesquite, Texas

Vasudev Patel, gas station owner, was shot to death. The 32-year-old murderer, Mark Stroman told police that he was motivated by vengeance for the terrorist attacks. The gunman alleged that he had lost a relative in the World Trade Center. Mrs. Patel is now working 16 hour days, 7 days a week, to try to maintain the service station her husband ran for 10 years. She is also the mother of two children, aged 11 and 13, and the sole supporter of two disabled parents.

Ali W. Ali Age 65 Somali descent

October 14, 2001 Minneapolis, MN Pioneer Press

Ali W. Ali was beaten unconscious while waiting at a bus stop. He later died in the hospital from head injuries. His son believes the assault was the result of an article written the night before in the Minneapolis Star Tribune which reported that local Somalis may have inadvertently donated to an organization now linked to Osama bin Laden.

Ramez Younan Syrian descent

October 18, 2001 Los Angeles, CA The Daily News of Los Angeles (10/19/01)

A convenience store owner, Ramez Younan was shot to death behind his cash register. Police report they have no suspects and no clear motive for the shooting. No money was stolen from the cash register.

Sukhpal Singh Sodhi Indian descent Sikh

August 4, 2002 San Francisco, CA

Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, brother of Balbir Singh Sodhi who was murdered on September 15 in Mesa AZ, was shot in the head, at close range, while driving a taxi. He was left with over $300 in his wallet.

Yasser Al-Ghurazy Yemeni descent

Clovis, CA

A Yemeni man, Yasse Al-Ghurazy, who owned a mini market and gas station was shot and killed outside his store in Clovis, CA.

Nirmal Singh Gill

Vancouver, BC Canada

Murdered by Lee Nikkel and Radoslaw Synderek.

Ibrahim Mohammed Palestinian descent Muslim

Chattanooga, TN

Ibrahim Mohammed was shot 4 times in the back and killed in front of his grocery store. Although the store was open and unattended, he had cash in his wallet and nothing was stolen.

Mohammed Omary Bengali descent Muslim

Denton, TX

The family reports that Mohammed Omary was opening his car door getting ready to go home after work when he was shot and killed.

Amar Singh Sachdeva Age 46 Indian descent Sikh

Connecticut Post West Haven, Connecticut

Amar Singh Sachdeva was working alone behind the counter of his Mobil station around 8 p.m when he was shot in the chest with a handgun, police said. There were no signs of a struggle and it is unclear if any money was taken.

Jawad Wassel Afghani descent Muslim

Early October 2002 Queens, NY

Jawad Wassel, a Muslim Afghani film maker, was murdered after an argument in early October with Mr. Powell about the origin of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Wagar Hasan	Age 46	Pakistani descent	Muslim
September 15, 2001	Dallas, TX	AP Wires (10/10/01)
Waqar Hasan was shot in the face while cooking burgers in his grocery store. The assailant apparently ignored what police described as a “considerable amount” of money in the cash register. Waqar is survived by four daughters, his mother and wife who were all dependent on him. They are now facing foreclosure on their home. The murderer, Mark Anthony Stroman, claimed he killed Hasan and another man and shot a third out of revenge for the terrorist attacks. All three victims were of South Asian descent.

Adel Karas	Age 48	Egyptian descent	Christian
September 15, 2001	San Gabriel, CA	AP October 10, 2001
Grocery store owner Adel Karas was shot to death while at work. After a confrontation between him and two customers, the two men shot him and sped off leaving the money in the cash register intact. He is survived by his wife and 3 children, ages 10, 12 and 13. Mr. and Mrs. Karas came to the U.S. to practice Christianity in a country that would be tolerant of their religion.

Saed Mujtahid	Pakistan descent	Muslim
September 15, 2001	Dallas, TX
Saed Mujtahid was working as a clerk in a convenience store when he was shot to death.

Jayantilal Patel	Age 45	Indian descent
September 17, 2001	Haines City, FL
Jayantilal Patel was found gagged, bound and beaten at the motel he owned and operated. A month later, police arrested Patel's murderers -Sean Russell, 23 and Kimberly Williams, 20. The pair confessed to killing Patel.

Ali Almansoop	Yemen descent
September 19, 2001	Lincoln Park, MI
Ali Almmansoop was shot in the back and killed while fleeing his attacker. He had lived in America for 32 years. Brent Seever, who was convicted of the shooting in June, told the police, “I was motivated by all this terrorist activity.” 26 year old Saleh Almansoop said of his father’s slaying, “Same terrorists. This is the same. Same as in New York. The same killed me dad. I lost everything.”

Surjit Singh Samra	Age 69	Sikh
September 19, 2001	Cerces, CA	Modesto Bee (10/18/01)
The body of Surjit Singh Samra was discovered 2 days after he had left his home for an evening walk. His body was found beneath about 5 feet of water in a nearby irrigation canal. Samra was still clothed, but his turban and glasses were missing. His wallet was in his pocket, money still intact.

Abdo Ali Ahmed	Arab descent
September 29, 2001	Fresno, CA	The Fresno Bee (10/02/01)
Abdo Ali Ahmed, a store employee, was shot several times and killed while at work. Witnesses told detectives that they saw four men speed from the store in a white four-door sedan. No merchandise or money was stolen. Ahmed had received threats since mid-September. He is survived by 8 children.

Abdullah Mohammed Nimer	Palestinian descent
October 3, 2001	Los Angeles, CA	AFP (10/09/01)
A clothing salesman, Abdullah Mohammed Nimer, was killed while making his door-to-door rounds. There were no witnesses, but Mr. Nimer's family is convinced that the killing was a hate crime because neither money nor goods were stolen.

Vasudev Patel	Age 49	Indian descent	Hindu
October 4, 2001	Mesquite, Texas
Vasudev Patel, gas station owner, was shot to death. The 32-year-old murderer, Mark Stroman told police that he was motivated by vengeance for the terrorist attacks. The gunman alleged that he had lost a relative in the World Trade Center. Mrs. Patel is now working 16 hour days, 7 days a week, to try to maintain the service station her husband ran for 10 years. She is also the mother of two children, aged 11 and 13, and the sole supporter of two disabled parents.

Ali W. Ali	Age 65	Somali descent
October 14, 2001	Minneapolis, MN	Pioneer Press
Ali W. Ali was beaten unconscious while waiting at a bus stop. He later died in the hospital from head injuries. His son believes the assault was the result of an article written the night before in the Minneapolis Star Tribune which reported that local Somalis may have inadvertently donated to an organization now linked to Osama bin Laden.

Ramez Younan	Syrian descent
October 18, 2001	Los Angeles, CA	The Daily News of Los Angeles (10/19/01)
A convenience store owner, Ramez Younan was shot to death behind his cash register. Police report they have no suspects and no clear motive for the shooting. No money was stolen from the cash register.

Sukhpal Singh Sodhi	Indian descent	Sikh
August 4, 2002	San Francisco, CA
Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, brother of Balbir Singh Sodhi who was murdered on September 15 in Mesa AZ, was shot in the head, at close range, while driving a taxi. He was left with over $300 in his wallet.

Yasser Al-Ghurazy	Yemeni descent
Clovis, CA
A Yemeni man, Yasse Al-Ghurazy, who owned a mini market and gas station was shot and killed outside his store in Clovis, CA.

Nirmal Singh Gill
Vancouver, BC Canada
Murdered by Lee Nikkel and Radoslaw Synderek.

Ibrahim Mohammed	Palestinian descent	Muslim
Chattanooga, TN
Ibrahim Mohammed was shot 4 times in the back and killed in front of his grocery store. Although the store was open and unattended, he had cash in his wallet and nothing was stolen.

Mohammed Omary	Bengali descent	Muslim
Denton, TX
The family reports that Mohammed Omary was opening his car door getting ready to go home after work when he was shot and killed.

Amar Singh Sachdeva	Age 46	Indian descent	Sikh
Connecticut Post	West Haven, Connecticut
Amar Singh Sachdeva was working alone behind the counter of his Mobil station around 8 p.m when he was shot in the chest with a handgun, police said. There were no signs of a struggle and it is unclear if any money was taken.

Jawad Wassel	Afghani descent	Muslim
Early October 2002	Queens, NY
Jawad Wassel, a Muslim Afghani film maker, was murdered after an argument in early October with Mr. Powell about the origin of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

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